Ladder



Sept. 9, 1930.

W. S. LITTLE LADDER Filed May 10, 1928 A TTORNE Y Patented Sept. 9, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WALTER S. LITTLE, F IE'ORTLAND, OREGON LADDER Application filed May 10, 1928.

This invention relates to ladders, and particularly to brackets for rigidly supporting the ladder steps.

The object of my invention is to provide a step-bracket for ladders, of simple construction and of light sheet material, formed to afford a maximum of strength for the weight of the material used and whereby the side rails of the ladder are strengthened and the ladder may be assembled with less labor at the factory or may be shipped in knockeddown condition and be readily put together by the user.

Other objects and advantages of my invention, and objects relating to details of construction and arrangement of parts thereof, will be readily apparent in the course of the detailed description to follow.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a preferred form of my invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ladder constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same showing the under side of a ladder step mounted in operative condition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing one end of a ladder step socketed in a supporting bracket and illustrating the method of securing the same to the side rails of the ladder. p

Fig. 4 is a detached View in front elevation of one of my improved brackets.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the blank from which the bracket is formed.

Referring to said views, the reference numerals 1 and 2 indicate the side rails of a ladder constructed in accordance with my invention, and 3 indicates the steps mounted therein in spaced relation to form the ladder and supported at their opposite ends in said rails. The bracket-s indicated generally by the numeral 5 secured to said rails and in which said steps are mounted form the principal subject matter of my invention. Said brackets are Serial No. 276,611.

formed from blanks illustrated in Fig. 5, of sheet metal of suitable thickness and material to' support the weight required. Each said blank is formed with a body 6 whose length is considerably greater than its Width and 5a having a straight edge 7 along oneof its longer sides. The opposite longer edge is incised by the removal of a portion of the material,

as at 8, to form integraltabs 10, which tabs are bent downwardly. along the line 11 at approximately right angles to the body, to form the under support of the bracket on the ladder rails.

Spaced inwardly from the incision 8 another incision 12 is made by the removal of (so some material to form tongues 13 of greater length than the tabs 10. Between the incisions 12 a flange 15 remains, of approxi-- mately the same width as the tabs 10 and which may be folded along the line 16 at right angles to the body. The body portion is folded transversely along the lines 17 at the apices of the respective incisions 12, throwing each end of the body portion downwardly and perpendicular to its central portion 18 between the bends 17. The end portions are again folded at 20 to direct the outer extremities of the body inwardly in parallel with the central portion 18.

The transverse bends 20 coincide with the apices of the incisions 8, leaving the tongues 13 and the adjacent body portions 21 between the bends 17 and 20 extending perpendicularly. .With the body portion thus folded along the lines 17 and 20 and the tabs folded 8 downwardly along the lines 11 and the flange 15 folded upwardly along the line 16, the brackets will assume a form suitable for mounting upon a ladder.- Thus the body 18 will-be formed in substantially a parallelogram, including a chamber 21 as a socket within which to receive the ends of the steps 3.

The tabs 10 will extend downwardly therefrom, where they may be secured to the inner face of the ladder rail by nails. 22 extending through holes 23. The flange directed upwardly in the same plane is formed with holes through which the flange is secured to the side rail by nails. When not secured to the ladder rail, the tongues 13 extend about the side rail and are folded along the lines 26 to engage the outer side of the ladder rails, as at 27 where they are rigidly secured by nail 28 through holes 30. The portion 27 of the tongues are inclined outwardly from the fold 26 so that they will lie in a straight line on the outer sideof the ladderrail when the steps are slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the rails as is usual incon-.

struction of ladders;

The step supporting socket extendsat sub the bracket to the side rail of the ladder, the 7 central portion of said body upon the upper side of said socket being formed with an upsame plane as said socket upon each side thereof intermediate the respective tab and said flange adapted to extend about the respective side and rear of the side rail.

WALTER S. LITTLE.

stantially right angles to the flange 15 and 1 tabs 10, and further rigidity is afforded there between by the provision of ridges 31struck out from the point of union ofthe body and the connecting portions 15 an'd10; The lad-" der may be assembled in any' suitable manner by securing the bracket to the side rails in spaced relation, whereupon the steps 3may be inserted and secured byrnails'32 extending through holes 33inthe body portion 18 and 'on theunder foldedportion of a socket member. I i

'The'provision otmy improvedbracket ad-d mits of economy .in time and labor and mate riali-n'the constructionof a ladder at the factoryandis especiallyadaptedfor shipment in knocked-down condition for assembly by I the user. The brackets maybe made of relatively light material to sustain the weight required,"as'-the material is distributed to 'ob--' tain the maximum advantage. The ladder rails 1 and 2 are not weakened by the mounting. of the brackets thereon. but rather strengthened ,at the point of support of the steps. The ladder is adapted for most all purposesfor which ladders .are used and particularly wherefbilightness combined with strengthis desirable- 1 From the foregoing connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and ap plication of my improved ladders will be readily apparent; but, while I have described theprincipleof operationof the invention, together with the devices I now consider the best embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the structures shown are merely illustrative and that such changes may be made therein as will lie within'the scope of thefollowing claim.

description, taken in f no ' Having described my invention, what Q claim, is: y 1

and each provided with a downturned tab'to form the under-support and attachment of e A step-bracketfor ladders, consistingin body formed from 'a blank of sheet metal foldedto form a substantially rectangular 

